Vertical egg washer and dryer such as integrated into an egg processing line

Abstract

A vertical washer or dryer, such as integrated into an egg handling operation. The vertical washer or dryer includes a vertically extending body supporting a carousel conveyor adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within the body between an inlet location and an outlet location of the body. A first egg conveyor communicates the eggs with the inlet location of the carousel conveyor, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with the outlet location. A least one of a plurality of egg washer spray bars or, in the separate variant, a plurality of egg dryer air knives, are integrated into the body in communication with the carousel conveyor for washing/drying the eggs while supported upon the carousel conveyor.

I claim: 
     
       1. A vertical egg conveying station, such as integrated into an egg handling operation, said station comprising:
 a body incorporating a vertically extending and carousel conveyor which is adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within said body between an inlet location and an outlet location of said body; 
 a first egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said inlet location of said carousel conveyor and, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said outlet location; 
 a plurality of egg treating elements incorporated into said body in communication with said carousel conveyor; and 
 said egg treatment elements further including a plurality of at least one of egg dryer bars and egg dryer knives integrated into said body in communication with said carousel conveyor for drying the eggs while supported upon said carousel conveyor. 
 
     
     
       2. The invention as described in  claim 1 , said egg treatment elements further comprising at least one of a plurality of washer spray bars integrated into said body in communication with said carousel conveyor for washing the eggs while supported upon said carousel conveyor. 
     
     
       3. The invention as described in  claim 2 , further comprising a drain reservoir positioned beneath an egg washer body in a washer application. 
     
     
       4. The invention as described in  claim 1 , said carousel conveyor further comprising a plurality elongated and width extending support bars having an arcuate receiving surface adapted to receive the eggs at the inlet location and to unload the eggs at the outlet location. 
     
     
       5. The invention as described in  claim 4 , said support bars further comprising any of a plastic or other non-corrosive material. 
     
     
       6. The invention as described in  claim 4 , said support bars each further comprising a plurality of laterally spaced arcuate supports defining said arcuate receiving surface. 
     
     
       7. The invention as described in  claim 6 , said arcuate receiving surfaces further comprising a “C” shaped profile for supporting the eggs during conveying and candling/rotating upon said support profile between said inlet and outlet locations. 
     
     
       8. The invention as described in  claim 6 , further comprising segregating walls incorporated into each of said support bars in laterally spaced apart fashion between said support surfaces to prevent eggs from axially traversing along said support surfaces, and specifically to prevent eggs from laterally displacing at a speed sufficient to fracture adjoining supported eggs. 
     
     
       9. The invention as described in  claim 6 , further comprising opposite ends of each of said arcuate supports having inwardly turned abutments to prevent the eggs from falling off of the support surfaces. 
     
     
       10. The invention as described in  claim 9 , further comprising pluralities of fixed fingers positioned at each of said inlet and outlet locations in order to transition the eggs from the first conveyor and, subsequently, to the second conveyor. 
     
     
       11. The invention as described in  claim 9 , further comprising upper and lower pairs of pulleys for supporting said carousel conveyor. 
     
     
       12. The invention as described in  claim 1 , further comprising said plurality of egg treatment elements being integrated into panel doors of said body facing said respective ascending and descending sides of said carousel conveyor. 
     
     
       13. The invention as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a motor and drive for controlling a speed of said carousel conveyor. 
     
     
       14. The invention as described in  claim 13 , further comprising a paddle wheel transfer for controlling an egg exit speed. 
     
     
       15. The invention as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a separation screen for segregating eggs supported on the ascending side of said carousel conveyor from those on the descending side. 
     
     
       16. The invention as described in  claim 1 , said vertically extending and carousel conveyor further comprising a pair of tandem arranged carousal conveyors, a plurality of fixed ramps being located between said conveyors for transferring eggs from a first of said conveyors to a second of said conveyors. 
     
     
       17. A vertical egg conveying station, such as integrated into an egg handling operation, said station comprising:
 a body incorporating a vertically extending and carousel conveyor which is adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within said body between an inlet location and an outlet location of said body; 
 said carousel conveyor further including a plurality elongated and width extending support bars having an arcuate receiving surface adapted to receive the eggs at the inlet location and to unload the eggs at the outlet location; 
 said support bars each further including a plurality of laterally spaced arcuate supports defining said arcuate receiving surface; 
 opposite ends of each of said arcuate supports having inwardly turned abutments to prevent the eggs from falling off of the support surfaces; 
 a first egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said inlet location of said carousel conveyor and, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said outlet location; 
 pluralities of fixed fingers positioned at each of said inlet and outlet locations in order to transition the eggs from the first conveyor and, subsequently, to the second conveyor; and 
 a plurality of egg treating elements incorporated into said body in communication with said carousel conveyor. 
 
     
     
       18. The invention as described in  claim 17 , said fixed fingers further extending at an angled and inter-meshing configuration and in an offset and alternately spaced fashion with said plurality of laterally spaced and arcuate supports of said elongated arcuate support bars. 
     
     
       19. The invention as described in  claim 18 , further comprising said inlet/outlet fixed transition fingers including a widened receiving platform spaced from a location of said inwardly curled end abutments of said individual arcuate egg support surfaces to prevent said support bars from contacting said fixed transition fingers. 
     
     
       20. The invention as described in  claim 19 , further comprising a continuous chain or belt for supporting said support bars. 
     
     
       21. A vertical egg conveying station, such as integrated into an egg handling operation, said station comprising:
 a body incorporating a vertically extending and carousel conveyor which is adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within said body between an inlet location and an outlet location of said body; 
 said carousel conveyor further including a plurality elongated and width extending support bars having an arcuate receiving surface adapted to receive the eggs at the inlet location and to unload the eggs at the outlet location; 
 said support bars each further including a plurality of laterally spaced arcuate supports defining said arcuate receiving surface; 
 segregating walls incorporated into each of said support bars in laterally spaced apart fashion between said support surfaces to prevent eggs from axially traversing along said support surfaces, and specifically to prevent eggs from laterally displacing at a speed sufficient to fracture adjoining supported eggs; 
 a first egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said inlet location of said carousel conveyor and, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said outlet location; and 
 a plurality of egg treating elements incorporated into said body in communication with said carousel conveyor. 
 
     
     
       22. A vertical egg conveying station, such as integrated into an egg handling operation, said station comprising:
 a body incorporating a vertically extending and carousel conveyor which is adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within said body between an inlet location and an outlet location of said body; 
 a first egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said inlet location of said carousel conveyor and, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said outlet location; 
 a plurality of egg treating elements incorporated into said body in communication with said carousel conveyor; and 
 said plurality of egg treatment elements being integrated into panel doors of said body facing said respective ascending and descending sides of said carousel conveyor. 
 
     
     
       23. A vertical egg conveying station, such as integrated into an egg handling operation, said station comprising:
 a body incorporating a vertically extending and carousel conveyor which is adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within said body between an inlet location and an outlet location of said body; 
 a motor and drive for controlling a speed of said carousel conveyor; 
 a paddle wheel transfer for controlling an egg exit speed; 
 a first egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said inlet location of said carousel conveyor and, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said outlet location; and 
 a plurality of egg treating elements incorporated into said body in communication with said carousel conveyor. 
 
     
     
       24. A vertical egg conveying station, such as integrated into an egg handling operation, said station comprising:
 a body incorporating a vertically extending and carousel conveyor which is adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within said body between an inlet location and an outlet location of said body; 
 a separation screen for segregating eggs supported on the ascending side of said carousel conveyor from those on the descending side; 
 a first egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said inlet location of said carousel conveyor and, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said outlet location; and 
 a plurality of egg treating elements incorporated into said body in communication with said carousel conveyor. 
 
     
     
       25. A vertical egg conveying station, such as integrated into an egg handling operation, said station comprising:
 a body incorporating a vertically extending and carousel conveyor which is adapted to support pluralities of eggs during transport in successive ascending and descending fashion within said body between an inlet location and an outlet location of said body; 
 a first egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said inlet location of said carousel conveyor and, a second egg conveyor communicating the eggs with said outlet location; 
 a plurality of egg treating elements incorporated into said body in communication with said carousel conveyor; and 
 said vertically extending and carousel conveyor further including a pair of tandem arranged carousal conveyors, a plurality of fixed ramps being located between said conveyors for transferring eggs from a first of said conveyors to a second of said conveyors.